Rhode Island Police Agencies Participating in Impaired Driving, Speeding Enforcement Campaigns to Prevent Crash Fatalities and Injuries this July

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association (RIPCA) reports that law enforcement agencies across the state are participating in two enforcement campaigns this July to help prevent crash-related fatalities and injuries typically seen around July 4 and throughout the summer.

The summer months are busy for travel as people go on vacations and road trips. Over the past five years, 32 people lost their lives on Rhode Island’s roadways during the month of July. Historically, July is one of the busiest months for travel and unfortunately, one of the state’s deadliest as well.  

Preliminary motor vehicle fatality data for Rhode Island thus far in 2023 shows 35 total fatalities from Jan. 1 through June 15. Of the 35 fatalities, eight were motorcyclists and four were pedestrians. This is an upwards trend from previous years — there were 13 total fatalities as of June 15 in 2022, 28 in 2021, 26 in 2020, and 22 in 2019. 

Data shows that the main causes for fatal and serious injury crashes on Rhode Island’s roadways are speed, not wearing a seat belt, impairment and distracted driving.

To help make roads safer this July, law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island will be participating in two campaigns: the Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over Fourth of July mobilization, and the Speeding Slows You Down enforcement campaign.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 13,384 crash-related deaths in 2021 involved alcohol-impaired drivers. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. for the year, and a 14.2% increase from 2020. That same year, 538 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the July 4th holiday alone, and 39% percent of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. 

During the Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization, law enforcement agencies will have officers specifically on the lookout for impaired and reckless drivers on the roads. Motorists are reminded of the following: 

• Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• If you plan to drink, make a plan ahead of time for a sober ride home. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, do not plan on driving. Instead, designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service to get home safely.
• Take keys away from individuals who are under the influence and are planning to drive. Alcohol and drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory, which are critical for safe and responsible driving.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911. 

Speeding Slows You Down

From July 10-31, agencies will participate in a Speeding Slows You Down NHTSA enforcement campaign and officers across the state will be on high alert for speeding vehicles, issuing tickets to drivers who violate the law.

In 2022, Rhode Island’s preliminary data shows that 66% of fatal crashes were speed related. Speeding is risky driving behavior as it reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve; extends the time it takes a vehicle to stop; and increases the risk of a crash because other vehicles and pedestrians may not be able to judge the vehicle’s distance correctly.

Speed also affects safety even when driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.

According to the NHTSA, 12,330 people were killed in speeding-related traffic crashes in 2021, and speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all fatal crashes nationally. 

In addition to driving sober and following the posted speed limit, RIPCA also wishes to share the following guidance for a safe July on Rhode Island’s roads:

• Always wear your seatbelt. Of the 23 vehicle occupants killed in Rhode Island as of June 15, 15 were not wearing seat belts. 
• Don’t drive distracted. Before driving, turn your phone off and put it out of reach. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.
• Distracted driving is more than just using your phone — it is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, and adjusting the radio or navigation system.
• Be on the lookout for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Be extra cautious in parking lots, and when approaching crosswalks, backing up, and changing lanes.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as at nighttime or in bad weather.

For more information on impaired driving, click here. For more information on the Speeding Slows You Down campaign, click here.